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Newark Teachers, Union Members, and Local Community Partners Rally in Support of Public Education

December 09, 2013

Today, Newark teachers, union members, community allies, and local residents took to the streets to protest destructive budget cuts, school closures, and top-down policies which undermine Newark’s public school system.

The New Jersey State AFL-CIO was proud to stand shoulder to shoulder with American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten, our union brothers and sisters, and various community partners including Working Families United for New Jersey, Inc., the Newark Students Union, and the Newark NAACP.

Collectively, we sent a message that the priorities of our public education system must be to provide equal educational opportunities for all students, maintain safe and modern schooling facilities, and ensure that those closest to the education process – teachers, school staff, students, their parents, and community members – have a voice in education policy and practice.

The Newark Public Schools Administration lost $56 million in state aid under the leadership of Superintendent Cami Anderson. The administration proposes to close as many as 15 more community schools, and has chosen to scapegoat teachers rather than work together to solve the education challenges facing Newark families. This top-down approach to public education is flawed and counterproductive.

Standing united will ensure that our communities remain a prevailing voice in the effort to improve local schools and help students harness the opportunity of a quality education.